The Bishopric of Courland was a historical ecclesiastical territory in what is now Latvia. Established in the 13th century, it was governed by a bishop who held both spiritual and temporal authority over the region. The bishopric played a significant role in the Christianization of the local population and the development of the area. The Bishopric of Courland was part of the larger Livonian Confederation and was influential in regional politics. It existed until the 18th century when it was secularized and incorporated into the Duchy of Courland, marking the end of its ecclesiastical governance.